יום חמישי, כ״א אלול תשפ״וThursday, September 3, 2026
Follow Us
For the proper running of society, and therefore for the good of mankind, there needs to be a system of leadership and a hierarchy of authority – what we know as government.
The worse that will result in relying on the rov in regards to tereifos, however, is an aveirah b’ones – an unwilling aveirah.
What's the deal with all these laws & what can they teach us about the true meaning of the Exodus?
Shifting the year's start from Tishrei to Nissan symbolizes a shift in perceiving the natural world.
By Rachel Weiss
As to which species of fruit caused the downfall of Adam and Eve and their subsequent ouster from the Garden, the verdict is still out.
Tragedy could still have been avoided had Ismay stuck to his origincal vision and goal.
Moshe Rabbeinu reached a level that surpasses human attainment.
Before each person is born, he is predestined for certain abilities and talents, a particular level of intelligence, and an exact disposition and temperament.
The Mishnah Berurah explains that one who davens out loud is demonstrating that he is of small emunah, since he is implying that Hashem cannot hear his quiet tefillah.
Why was there so much repetitive conversation between God and Moses before actual Exodus from Egypt?
According to the Baal haTurim the snakes created by the magicians represented Phaorah himself
Who was Moses become he became MOSES?!
Pharaoh had no problem with emunah, but he sure didn’t trust in Hashem – he rebelled. He had emunah, but no bitachon.
Refraining from nursing from a non-Jewish woman is merely going beyond the letter of the law.
Tzipporah is largely invisible & almost entirely silent, we hear her only when she rebukes Moshe
For the next seventeen years, every time they spoke and every time they were together, there was a certain wedge keeping them apart.
It is evident from the Gemara and from the berachah that Yaakov Avinu gave to Asher that properly honoring Shabbos is not only a great mitzvah, but sound financial advice as well.
He had always thought of Rothschild as a French citizen first and foremost.
This week closes sefer Breishit; How did we come so far from the ideal nation set up by Abraham?
It is a time of dark shadows but we can use these shadows to explore and discover our own light.
Did you ever wonder if Yosef and his brothers ever conclusively put their past friction to rest?
With short, metaphoric, speeches to his sons-wrongly called blessings-Yakov conveys his take on life
When you accept Torah and mitzvos upon yourself as an obligation, you simultaneously invest yourself with the strength to carry out the obligation.
Yakov realized there was a Divine plan all along; God did not inflict suffering on him for no reason
"Jews" are the descendants of "Yehudah" whose comes from "Todah" meaning thanks. Jews give "THANKS"
The snake didn’t have an intrinsic craving for Chava. Only after he looked did he start desiring her.
Ramban says the Patriarchs were considered to be Jews, meaning they kept the Torah and all its Commandments, while living in the Land of Canaan.
Obviously, this wasn’t the first time Yaakov read Shema. He had accepted Hashem’s dominion on a daily basis for decades. But this was a new level of understanding he was only able to obtain through these powerful emotions.
Some have pointed out that the Gemara says that priyah was not an obligation until Maamad Har Sinai.
In Parshat Vayigash, we witness Judah's epic monologue to Joseph change the course of history --
Was it not obvious that these dreams foretold the wine-bearer’s reinstatement and the baker’s execution?
Utilizing the hidden light of Chanukah, we can defeat Islam and Yishmael.
Both Yehudah & Yehudah HaMaccabee were aware of their missions challenges, yet, they went forward
Payment on the covenant began that fateful day Jacob sent Joseph from the valley of Hebron to search for his brothers.
Tackling the story of Sale of Joseph & learning how to reconcile relationships with those we love
Mixed with the signals sent & received, some are ignored, most blatantly, Dinah's "Going Out."
Earlier in history, the Beis HaMikdash had been the center of life, the pride of every Jew.
As is evident from the Rambam, when one lights Chanukah candles higher than 20 amos it is not considered a ner Chanukah at all.
Yosef’s tale illustrates that "clothes don't make the man"
By Rachel Weiss
How apropos that the letter Ayin, with a numerical value of seventy, is associated with the month of Teves.
Yehuda, in an act of moral courage, readily admits his sin.
We traced her family history and discovered that she is actually Jewish. She was so excited.
Jacob's response to his sons' feud reversed the actions of his youth-he sends Joseph to reconcile
Perhaps this fulfilled the first dream, regarding Joseph’s economic domination of his brothers. However, it did not fulfill the second dream.
“These are the chronicles of Yaakov: Yosef was seventeen years old, and he watched his brothers.” – Bereishis 37:2 At the age of seventeen, Yosef was wise in the ways of the Torah and the ways of the world. He was called a “ben zikunim” because even at such a young age he showed […]
There is a glaring difference between the Beis Yosef’s answers.
Chanukah celebrates those willing to provoke the Greeks & prod the Jewish people from their slumber.
Is Vayeishev,this weeks parsha, a chapter in Genesis or an episode of Game of Throne?!
Tamar initiates the process, opening Yehudah’s eyes to her essence; “clothes don’t make the (wo)man"
The Mesilas Yesharim (Chapter 1) explains that our purpose in this world is to gain entry into the World to Come. The medium for that is Torah and mitzvos, for which one can only achieve reward in this world.
People have 1 name because it supposedly reflects identity. What if a person has a double identity?
We must re-focus our priorities & our communal resources from Jewish defense to Jewish spirituality
We’re the westernmost Jewish community on the planet (!) thus always “wrapping it up” for Klal Yisroel by making the last kiddush or havdalla, lighting the last Menorah, etc.
The answer to this question can best be understood with a perspective on capitalism.
Jewish history is the story of exile. Jacob blazed the trail for the Jews in exile.
Of course Hashem still cares for His people and can still perform miracles.
In any event, how do we explain the fact that Hashem changed Avraham’s name entirely but merely added another name to Yaakov’s?
By making two lists-Details & Foundations-you will find your Thanks will become an act of Giving.
Join us as we consider the story of the Rape of Dina with the respect and understanding it deserves.
I told her that I could teach him the brachos to make on the Torah, he could get an aliyah, and in addition, I would help him write a short dvar Torah from the parsha.
How is it possible that Yaakov didn't know he spent his wedding night with Leah rather than Rachel?
Yaakov Avinu wasn’t afraid that he would learn to steal because of Lavan; he was afraid that his image of what is considered normal behavior might be affected.
A neis b'nistar causes a reduction in one’s zechuyos; therefore, one should not daven for it.
What did Jacob mean when he realized the sanctity of the place he slept and declared it to be the House of G-d, Beit Elokim?
Of all the many fathers-in-law in the Bible, only Yitro & Lavan are singled out for this designation
What is the Bible trying to teach us with this focus on Jacob and the theme of deception?
Eisav was born with great spiritual potential but he made a number of wrong choices.
It seems to me that the practice of the Arizal is exactly what the Sfas Emes is noting and presents a balanced yet deeply spiritual teaching that is vital to internalize.
Children knew their place, and the idea of a child speaking back to an adult was unheard of.
It seems clear from this explanation that time spent in heaven does not constitute time in regards to aging and other time-related calculations in this world.
After Abraham verified that Rebecca was indeed a worthy wife for Isaac, the Torah says, “vayiten Avraham lYitzchak,” Abraham transferred the tradition to Isaac.
In the tales of Isaac one thing becomes apparent: He's rarely the main character in his own stories!
Yehuda & Yosef are the tikun (repairing) for Yaakov, who deceived his father and suffered for it.
Ever wondered why the least funny Jew in the entire Torah should be named Yitchak, “He Laughed?”
By Rachel Weiss
His dilemma weighed heavily on him, even as he was in the process of burying a poor departed soul.
All too often leaders fail to consider adequately the importance of logistics and their organizations suffer as a consequence.
Heeding the Rebbe’s call, in the spring of 1998, my wife Nechoma and I, with our two young children, Mendel and Mussie, departed from LaGuardia Airport and took off to the buckle of the Bible Belt – Oklahoma City.
Avraham identifies himself as a ger toshav meaning "alien resident." How could Avraham be both?
No longer does Frank dream about spending time with his child, no longer does he yearn for that relationship. What happened?
Preparation for prayer must be commensurate with the type of prayer offered.
The fruits and grain that the non-Jews had planted and toiled on belonged to them.
At the beginning of this week's parsha, Rashi informs us that Sarah's death was no accident, but rather a result of hearing about Avraham almost sacrificing her beloved only son, Yitzchak. Based on the midrash, Rashi explains that the terrifying image of such a scene was more than she could handle. Though Sarah would almost […]
In our journey to understand the epic legacy of Abraham and Isaac, the stories of their actions and attributes are abruptly cut short by the urgent quest to find Isaac a worthy wife - welcome to the team, Rebecca. Clearly the text is trying to teach us that there is something unique and essential about […]
The struggle of living both in the spiritual & physical worlds is our mission & potential greatness
Both portions deal with God’s promises to Avraham; Lech Lecha is nationalistic, Vayeira is universal
What does the odd bargaining session between Abraham & God mean? What does it teach about Abraham?
The Shita Mekubetzes there asks why the Gemara did not cite a source to permit the consumption of milk from a pasuk in this week’s parsha.
Avraham spent his life emulating Hashem. Every waking moment of his existence was focused on making himself as much like Hashem as humanly possible.
Perhaps G-d’s approval of Abraham's emphasis of kavod habriyot can be found in the subsequent verses (Genesis 18:19).
The greatest impact of an individual is generally felt when he acts as part of the larger community.
In this week's parsha, what do we learn about the intense power Abraham had to influence others?
By Rabbi Lord Jonathan Sacks z"l
HaShem waited while Abraham attended to his visitors before discussing with him the fate of Sodom.
When one is able to serve G-d and feel connected with Him on an emotional level, it is far greater than one who merely has an intellectual and rational connection.
Avraham Avinu is the first Jew and the first human being to take moral responsibility for himself and his surroundings.
The 1st commandment given to proto-Israelite nation, through our patriarch Abraham, is circumcision
It is important to appreciate Terah, the foundation from which the patriarchs and matriarchs emerged
It seems that in an attempt to portray gedolim as great, we have made them non-human – angels just barely wearing human form.
Circumcision and the Sabbath/Festivals are both classified as otot (signs) of our relationship with G-d.
If everything depends on the final test, the Sacrifice of Yitzchok, why give Avraham other trials?
September 4, 2026 
